Winners of 2013 Adobe Youth Voices Aspire Awards Announced

For immediate release

Teens Use Digital Media to Showcase Creativity, Share Perspectives on Social and Environmental Issues

SAN JOSE, Calif. — June 13, 2013— The Adobe Foundation today announced the winners of its second annual Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) Aspire Awards, the only online competition inviting youth around the world to creatively express their vision for change in their communities. More than 1,100 submissions from 51 countries were received, and over 830,000 audience votes were cast for the audience choice awards. Winning entries across the competition’s nine categories address a variety of complex social and environmental topics, such as bullying and climate change; they are featured online at
http://youthvoices.adobe.com/awards/.

“The winning projects illustrate the power of creativity and expression among young people, especially when they have access to digital tools that help bring their ideas to life,” said Michelle Yates, director of corporate social responsibility, Adobe and Adobe Foundation executive director. “This program focuses on encouraging youth to develop the creative skills that will help them be more deeply engaged in their education in the short term, and better prepared to succeed long term in a rapidly evolving global economy.”

AYV Award entries were invited in eight standard content categories, representing various storytelling methods including animation, music video, documentary, and photo essay. A ninth category, the UNICEF Challenge, gave entrants the opportunity to develop a video proposal for a project they would implement in their local community. An international panel of professionals working in art, film, and other creative fields selected the first and second place winners in each standard category, while a panel of international UNICEF experts selected the UNICEF Challenge winners.

“Adobe is creating a meaningful opportunity for youth to come together and share digital content that bravely and creatively helps these teens address issues that are important to them,” said Meredith Lavitt, director, Film Forward Initiative, Sundance Institute and 2013 AYV Awards judge. “I’m excited to be involved in an effort that inspires the next generation and sparks a global conversation.”

Winners and affiliated schools/organizations for each standard category receive software, hardware, a trip to attend the 2013 AYV Summit in San Jose, Calif., and a charitable donation to a cause of their choice. The UNICEF Challenge first and second place winners receive $40,000 and $30,000 grants, respectively, dedicated to implementing the winning project proposals. In addition to being showcased on the Aspire Awards website, winning entries from all categories will be featured at distinguished exhibitions, including international film festivals and other arts organization events.

About Adobe Youth Voices
Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) is the Adobe Foundation’s global initiative to ignite Creative Confidence in youth by empowering them to find their voice and make it heard. The youth involved in AYV spotlight the issues they care about by creating original media – a process that fosters their passion to make a difference while providing them with the creative skillsessential to success in the world today. Through programs like AYV, and by increasing creativity in education, Adobe believes we will better equip young people to be the problem solvers, critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. To learn more about AYV, its point of view on creativity in education and how you can be involved, please visit http://youthvoices.adobe.com/.

About the Adobe FoundationThe Adobe Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation created and funded by Adobe Systems Incorporated to leverage human, technological and financial resources to drive social change and community improvements.